Feeding a family well on a tight weekly budget usually means one of two things: repetitive meals, or a lot of takeout. Neither has to be true. Built around a handful of inexpensive, versatile staples — eggs, tofu, ground pork, rice, and whatever produce is freshest that week — it’s entirely possible to put five different, satisfying dinners on the table for well under $15 per meal for a family of four.

Each of the five dinners below uses overlapping ingredients on purpose, so a single trip to Shuang Hur covers the whole week without waste.

1. Fried Rice with Whatever’s on Sale

Fried rice is less a recipe than a template, which is exactly what makes it a budget hero. Start with day-old rice (fresh rice works too if spread out to cool first), scramble in a couple of eggs, and stir-fry with whatever vegetables are cheapest that week — carrots, peas, cabbage, or green beans all work. Season with soy sauce, a touch of sesame oil, and white pepper. A diced leftover protein, or none at all, both work fine.

2. Egg and Tomato Stir-Fry Over Rice

One of the most beloved home-style Chinese dishes, and one of the cheapest. Scramble eggs softly and set aside, then quickly stir-fry ripe tomatoes with garlic, a pinch of sugar, and a splash of soy sauce until they break down into a light sauce. Fold the eggs back in and serve over steamed rice. Six ingredients, fifteen minutes, and a genuinely comforting dinner.

3. Braised Tofu and Napa Cabbage

Firm tofu, pan-seared until golden, then braised with napa cabbage, garlic, ginger, and a simple soy-based sauce until the cabbage turns silky. Tofu is one of the least expensive proteins in the store and holds up beautifully in a braise, soaking up flavor rather than needing much of its own.

4. Ground Pork and Long Bean Stir-Fry

Ground pork is one of the more affordable proteins at the meat counter, and it goes a long way stretched with vegetables. Stir-fry ground pork with garlic and chili until browned, then add long beans cut into inch-long pieces and cook until just tender-crisp. Finish with soy sauce and a touch of oyster sauce, and serve over rice.

5. Clearance-Produce Stir-Fry

The fifth dinner is intentionally open-ended: whatever produce is marked down or nearing its best day — bok choy, gai lan, mushrooms, or eggplant — stir-fried simply with garlic, a splash of soy sauce, and a protein of choice. This is the dinner that keeps the week’s grocery bill low by using up what’s already in the fridge.

The Week’s Shopping List

One trip covers all five dinners: a bag of rice, a dozen eggs, a block of firm tofu, a pound of ground pork, napa cabbage, long beans, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, green onion, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and whichever seasonal produce looks best that day for the fifth meal. All of it is available in one visit to Shuang Hur, and the full week of dinners typically comes in well under $75 total for a family of four.